Philippines Ecowaste Coalition Tender

The EcoWaste Coalition has again warned Filipino consumers against buying and using cheap imitation lipsticks that may be laced with lead and other heavy metal contaminants.The anti-toxics watchdog group issued the warning after screening lipsticks bought from retailers of counterfeit cosmetics in Divisoria Manila on July 9 and 11. The group employed a handheld X-Ray Fluorescence XRF spectrometer to screen the items for heavy metals.Consumers should not think that imitation lipsticks - because they are branded - are harmless to use. These counterfeits as we all know have not been assessed for quality and safety by our health authorities and may contain health-damaging chemical and bacterial contaminants said Thony Dizon Chemical Safety Campaigner EcoWaste Coalition. The presence of high levels of heavy metal contaminants in the lipsticks we screened may be attributed to the use of low-quality raw materials and the failure to observe good manufacturing practices he said.Consumers especially women of child-bearing age should avoid these tainted lipsticks. Pregnant women who may ingest lead in lipstick through multiple applications each day can expose babies in the womb at their very critical age of development. Lead is known to cross the placenta and pile up in fetal tissues he warned.Exposure to high levels of lead may also bring about reproductive health problems such as miscarriage stillbirth premature birth low birth weight and birth defects he added.The following imitation lipsticks were among those found to be contaminated with high concentrations of lead 1. MAC Mariah Carey 02 red canister 43800 ppm2. MAC Mariah Carey 02 yellow canister 41100 ppm3. Naked Love 09 25600 ppm4. MAC Retro Matte A08 11600 ppm5. MAC Zac Posen So Chaud 04 7523 ppm6. MAC Zac Posen Kinda Sexy 14 4626 ppm7. MAC Zac Posen Girl About Town 08 4532 ppm8. Revlon Matt Gossip Gurl 07 1232 ppm9. Revlon Matt Gossip Gurl 06 242 ppm10. MAC Zac Posen Angel 10 152 ppmAccording to the FDA lead is a proven toxicant that accumulates in the body through constant exposure and absorption over a prolonged period. Health problems through chronic ingestion of high level of lead in lipsticks may manifest as neurologic hematologic gastrointestinal cardiovascular and renal problems.Lead easily crosses the placenta and pregnant women should pay particular attention to the different sources of lead exposure the FDA warned.The World Health Organization WHO has listed arsenic lead and mercury among the 10 chemicals of major public health concern requiring action by governments to protect the health of children women of reproductive age and workers.To prevent human exposure to lead and other chemical as well as bacterial impurities in lipsticks the EcoWaste Coalition again reminded consumers to observe the following precautionary measures a. Check if the item has the required cosmetic product notification by accessing the FDA website.b. Buy from a licensed retail outlet and ask for an official receipt.c. If the price looks too good to be true the product is most likely a counterfeit.d. Use less especially if the product is not guaranteed safe from lead and other contaminants.e. Dont let children play with lipstick. EcoWaste CoalitionOut of 32 samples costing P35 to P50 each 10 were found to contain lead in the scale of 152 to 43800 parts per million ppm way above the 20 ppm limit for lead as contaminant as per the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive ACD. Some samples also screened positive for arsenic and mercury which like lead are not permitted by the ACD as ingredients in cosmetic product formulations. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources DENR Administrative Order 2013-24 which bans lead above 90 ppm in paint products also bans the use of lead and lead compounds in the production of cosmetics.